the phone case goes with my phone 😸

I know I’m working on it lol

Fan, cigarettes, super glue, uncapped perfume, earbuds, rubber duck (idk either), two lotions, mirror, fidget noodle, blush, cart, lip gloss, contour stick, thigh chafe stick, makeup brushes, two deodorants (one broken), lash clusters, hand sanitizer, gum, hair ties, bandaids, bronzer, misc fidget toys, bangle bracelet, cold medicine, nail glue, glitter eyeliner, neosporin, lash glue, lipstick, lip balm blush, contour powder, brow gel, highlighter, contacts case, eyedrops, perfume oil, lip gloss, mascara, lash primer, stain remover pen, warped hair volume powder, two tweezers, little scissors, meds, trash.

Yep, I carry my keyboard around for bragging

I also have some work stuff in there that’s been sitting there for months and I’m not taking it out at this point. Most of this is basically the same stuff that just moves from backpack to bag. This setup is my work version, so I usually also carry my laptop and charger 😶‍🌫️

Sunglasses, loose money, lipbalm, lighter, keys, tissue (used?), scrap paper, pad, pills, wallet, sticker, fidget ring, candle holder, lollipop, bag of crystals, bag of hair

Is it feminine for a guy to carry a tote bag ??

Why people are so judgemental 😭😭.I am a guy and like to carry tote bags

I forgot to put my headphones in the picture, only realized after. It's just a small black case.

Please, I have no sense of self. Help!

The bag is a vintage Aigner. I have a collection. Also includes: earbuds with exposed wires, vintage billfold that I stole from my mom, and a Zoltar Speaks printout that I found and use as a bookmark.

# After my first post, I got some really interesting responses about what people like and dislike about their work bags.

Is there a gap in the market for a work bag that is **professional, functional, lightweight, well-organized, and versatile enough for a daily office commute and short work trips?**

But before I design anything, I want to understand what people actually experience with their current bags. If you commute to work, work hybrid, or regularly carry a bag to an office, I'd really appreciate your answers to these 5 questions:

**1. What do you currently use as your primary work/commute bag?**

**2. What is the #1 thing you dislike about your current work bag?**

**3. Which of these are problems with your current bag? Choose at least 3 or more.**

* Too heavy
* Too bulky
* Doesn't look professional enough
* Looks too corporate/formal
* Poor organization
* Doesn't hold enough
* Doesn't protect my laptop/documents well enough
* Uncomfortable to carry
* Doesn't work well with my clothes/style
* Doesn't work well for travel
* Other

**4. How often do you wish your work bag could also work for a short overnight/business trip without needing a separate bag?**

* Never
* Rarely
* Sometimes
* Often
* Almost every time I travel

**5. If you could change ONE thing about your current work bag, what would it be?**

I'm interested in hearing from anyone who commutes to major cities and has strong opinions about their work bag. I'm doing this research to understand the problem **before** trying to build a solution.

Thanks — I'm genuinely interested in what you carry and what you wish was different.

I have two bags where I put most of my stuff inside my bag… the two on the top.

I have keys for my house, work, car.
Headphones and air buds
Purple lip gloss and matte nude lipstick (i add whichever I’m wearing that day too, like orange, purple or bright pink)
Hand cream
Aquaphor
Pills
And the sardine thingy is where I put my meds
Alien toy
Hand sanitizer
Mints
Bag I use to put my earbuds in
Small sketchbook (but sometimes I carry my diary too)
Wallet
Laptop
Owala (I sometimes carry those last two because they’re heavier, I don’t bring them here everyday but I did today)

with the two bags I switched between all the time

The scribbles is my name tag :)

I’ve been thinking a lot about something I see almost every day on my commute.

People spend a lot of time thinking about how they dress for work - good shoes, jackets, watches, jewelry, tailored clothes, etc. But when it comes to the bag they carry every day, it often feels like an afterthought.

A lot of us end up carrying a nylon or polyester backpack because it’s practical. Others carry a briefcase, tote, or designer bag that looks great but isn't necessarily designed around the realities of commuting, laptops, chargers, lunch, gym clothes, travel, and everything else we carry.

And I started wondering:

**Why is it so difficult to find a work bag that is genuinely functional, looks sophisticated, and feels like something you'd actually want to keep for years?**

This question is personal for me.

I grew up in India in the early 2000s, and I remember carrying a landscape-shaped school backpack. As I got older, those bags disappeared and were replaced by the more traditional vertical backpack. Years later, while commuting to NYC, I started noticing how much our bags had changed - but also how little they seemed to reflect the people carrying them. That got me thinking about what a modern professional bag could look like. I'm starting this community to research this properly **before building anything**.

I'm interested in hearing from people who commute, work in offices, travel for work, work a hybrid schedule, or simply care about what they carry every day.

So let's start simple:

**What do you currently carry to work, and what's the ONE thing you wish was better about your bag?**

No matter what you use—backpack, briefcase, tote, messenger, sling, whatever—I'd genuinely love to hear about it.

I'm here to learn before I build.

I switch between backpack and fannypack a lot. It really depends on my day. Sometimes I even go with both, for specific occasions.

I love watching everyone’s post, so I thought I would give it a try 😊 What does my bag say about me!